NCT woes - Opinions please

n0brain3r

I brought the OH's car for NCT last month it failed on the front offside tyre valve leaking. I'd gotten the test early so I said fcuk it I'll drive straight to the tyre place and get it sorted get back to the centre and make it back to work by 10am.

I got about two miles from the centre and realised I was driving on a flat so I pulled in and changed it (Test was in Naas at Toughers BP and I got to the BnQ roundabout before I realised somthing was up )

I went straight to Healys who told me the tyre was fcuked and needed to be replaced they also looked at the value and said they'd never seen one go like that it had been split where just where it enters the rim. They tried to inflate the tyre and it wouldn't hold any pressure so it looks like it was flat when the NCT gave the car back.

I wrote a letter of complaint to the NCT but they've just rebuffed me and said what happened was a result of normal wear and tear and they were in no way liable for the damage caused to the tyre.

I know I drove on the tyre and wrecked it but I am wrong in expecting the car back in a drivable condition or if not should I of been informed it wasn't safe to drive?

Is this damage to the valve normal wear and tear?

I looked through the NCT manual and a leaking valve isn't listed as a failure am I just being pedantic:D

Just thought I'd put this out there and see what you think.

pa990

you drove on a flat tyre.. that will damage the tyre.

you cant expect someone to tell you whats safe and whats not, sometimes you have to use common sense.

Common sense would dictate that driving on a flat tyre will cause damage and is not safe.

n0brain3r

pa990 wrote: »

you drove on a flat tyre.. that will damage the tyre.

you cant expect someone to tell you whats safe and whats not, sometimes you have to use common sense.

Common sense would dictate that driving on a flat tyre will cause damage and is not safe.

Thanks but I'm not really disputing any of that and I acknowledged I damaged the tyre. I suppose my point is that there was nothing wrong with it when it went in. The test finished and the inspector told me it failed as if you move the valve it's leaking - It was fine the night before when I checked the pressures - He said just go get it sorted and bring it back for a visual and it would pass so thats what I did. Am I wrong to think if you drive a car into the test and they don't tell you different you can expect to drive it away?

Ghost Train

Sounds like he pointed out it was leaking after everything else passed. Did the tyre look flat when you left the test centre? Would have thought you would realise fairly quickly if a tyre was flat and you try drive on it

Hundreds of cars get tested every day without the test damaging the tyre valve, so just sounds like it was something waiting to happen

mickdw

For god sake OP. Your valve was leaking. The NCT guys Im sure gave it a good poking to be sure it was leaking. This possibly increased the leak but the fault was already there or at least was only waiting to happen when they touched the value. Would you rather they let you out saying nothing? INstead they told you you had a problem which duly happened once you left NCT centre. Good job on their behalf imo.

How could you query leaky tyre as a fail item? Surely you understand that this is safety critical.
It was a €5 repair if you hadnt continued to drive on it.

This is a no brainer, they're not liable at all

slimjimmc

Section 36 of the NCT Manual requires the tester to check the condition of the valve stem, which he obviously did because he failed you on it. Instead of taking the logic step of putting on the spare tyre, because you were in a bit of a hurry, you chose to drive off without even checking to see if the tyre had enough pressure to do so. That's fine, that's your choice but you can't blame the NCT guys for your decision.

n0brain3r

Thanks guys it looked ok after the test and I was in a rush so I jumped in. I'm just raging that it was fine before it got there no slow puncture or anything so I thought it would make it to the tyre centre at least!

n0brain3r

Actually I've another question if I may!

The car is now sporting two new front tyres but the ABS seems a little sensitive now. If you brake heavy enough on a dry road (Heavy enough to lock up on gravel say) from 5mph down the abs kicks in just as I stop. Is this just from the new tyres having better grip or something else?

Esel

If fitting only 2 new tyres, it is recommended that they be fitted to the rear.

n0brain3r

Thanks esel I read that too but then read with VW ESP new tyres had to be fit to the front. It's an 06 Passat btw

gofaster_s13

esel wrote: »

If fitting only 2 new tyres, it is recommended that they be fitted to the rear.

According to who ??

n0brain3r

I'm on the iPhone so don't no how to link it but it's on this forum somewhere with some pretty convincing arguments.

gofaster_s13

gofaster_s13 wrote: »

According to who ??

Not this again

Alun

gofaster_s13 wrote: »

According to who ??

The major tyre manufacturers, that's who. But then, what would they know?

There's a couple of mammoth threads on here all about it.

djimi

esel wrote: »

If fitting only 2 new tyres, it is recommended that they be fitted to the rear.

By this I presume you mean fit the new tires on the rear and move the rear tires to the front, yes?

Esel

djimi wrote: »

By this I presume you mean fit the new tires on the rear and move the rear tires to the front, yes?

That's right.

http://www.google.ie/search?aq=2&oq=%22fit+new+tyres&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=why+fit+new+tyres+to+the+rear